Filter shelf vs filter card in Tableau - Dashboard Approaches Compared

Dashboard Mode - Filter shelf vs filter card

Goal

Understand how to use the Filter Shelf and Filter Card in Tableau to control what data appears in your views.

Sample Data

Region	Category	Sales	Profit
East	Furniture	1000	200
West	Technology	1500	300
East	Office Supplies	700	100
South	Furniture	1200	250
West	Office Supplies	900	150
South	Technology	1300	350

Dashboard Components

• KPI Card: Total Sales
  Formula: SUM([Sales])
  Result: 5000
• KPI Card: Total Profit
  Formula: SUM([Profit])
  Result: 1350
• Bar Chart: Sales by Region
  Shows total sales for each region using SUM([Sales]) grouped by [Region]
• Filter Shelf
  Filter applied: [Category] = 'Furniture' or 'Technology'
  Effect: Limits data in the view to only these categories before calculations
• Filter Card
  Interactive filter for [Region]
  Allows user to select one or more regions to display in the charts and KPIs

Dashboard Layout

+----------------------+----------------------+
| Total Sales (KPI)    | Total Profit (KPI)   |
+----------------------+----------------------+
|                      Bar Chart: Sales by Region                      |
+---------------------------------------------------------------------+
| Filter Card: Region (interactive)                                   |
+---------------------------------------------------------------------+
| Filter Shelf: Category (fixed filter, not visible on dashboard)     |
+---------------------------------------------------------------------+

Interactivity

The Filter Shelf applies a fixed filter on Category. It restricts data to Furniture and Technology before any calculations or visualizations.

The Filter Card for Region is interactive. When the user selects regions, the KPIs and bar chart update to show data only for those regions.

Because the Filter Shelf filter is fixed, users cannot change it from the dashboard. The Filter Card filter is visible and user-controlled.

Self Check

If you add a filter on the Filter Card to select only the 'East' region, which components update?

• The Total Sales and Total Profit KPI cards update to show sums only for East.
• The Bar Chart updates to show sales only for East.
• The Filter Shelf filter remains the same, so only Furniture and Technology categories are included.

Key Result

Dashboard showing total sales and profit with fixed category filter and interactive region filter in Tableau.

Practice

1. What is the primary purpose of the Filter Shelf in Tableau?

easy

A. To create calculated fields for filtering

B. To display filter controls for users to interact with

C. To add and manage filters that control which data is shown

D. To design dashboards and arrange visual elements

Solution

1. Step 1: Understand the role of the Filter Shelf

   The Filter Shelf is where you place fields to filter the data in your view.

2. Step 2: Differentiate from Filter Card

   The Filter Card is the visible control for users, but the shelf is for applying filters behind the scenes.

3. Final Answer:

   To add and manage filters that control which data is shown -> Option C

4. Quick Check:

   Filter Shelf = Manage filters [OK]

Hint: Shelf applies filters; card shows filter controls [OK]

Common Mistakes:

• Confusing Filter Shelf with Filter Card
• Thinking Filter Shelf is for user interaction
• Mixing filter creation with dashboard design

2. Which of the following is the correct way to show a filter control to users in Tableau?

easy

A. Right-click a field on the Filter Shelf and select 'Show Filter'

B. Create a calculated field and add it to the Filter Shelf

C. Drag a field to the Filter Shelf only

D. Add a field to the Columns shelf

Solution

1. Step 1: Locate the filter on the Filter Shelf

   Filters are first added to the Filter Shelf to limit data.

2. Step 2: Show the filter control

   Right-clicking the filter on the shelf and choosing 'Show Filter' displays the Filter Card for user interaction.

3. Final Answer:

   Right-click a field on the Filter Shelf and select 'Show Filter' -> Option A

4. Quick Check:

   Show Filter = Right-click shelf filter [OK]

Hint: Right-click shelf filter to show card [OK]

Common Mistakes:

• Adding field only to shelf without showing filter
• Trying to show filter from Columns shelf
• Confusing calculated fields with filter controls

3. If you add a filter to the Filter Shelf but do NOT show the Filter Card, what will happen?

medium

A. Users can still change the filter values interactively

B. Tableau will show an error message

C. The filter will not apply to the data

D. The data will be filtered but users cannot change the filter

Solution

1. Step 1: Understand filter application

   Filters on the Filter Shelf always apply to the data, limiting what is shown.

2. Step 2: Recognize user interaction limits

   If the Filter Card is not shown, users cannot interact or change the filter settings.

3. Final Answer:

   The data will be filtered but users cannot change the filter -> Option D

4. Quick Check:

   Filter Shelf filters data; Card allows user changes [OK]

Hint: Shelf filters data; card enables user control [OK]

Common Mistakes:

• Assuming users can change filters without Filter Card
• Thinking filter won't apply without card
• Expecting error when card is hidden

4. You added a filter to the Filter Shelf and showed the Filter Card, but users report they cannot change the filter selections. What is the most likely cause?

medium

A. The filter is set to 'Single Value' and users are trying to select multiple values

B. The filter is set to 'Only Relevant Values' which disables user changes

C. The filter is applied to a dimension with no data

D. The filter is a context filter that locks selections

Solution

1. Step 1: Check filter control type

   If the filter card is set to 'Single Value' mode, users can only select one value at a time.

2. Step 2: Understand user behavior

   If users try to select multiple values but the filter restricts to single, it appears they cannot change selections as expected.

3. Final Answer:

   The filter is set to 'Single Value' and users are trying to select multiple values -> Option A

4. Quick Check:

   Single Value filter limits user selection [OK]

Hint: Check filter card selection type for user limits [OK]

Common Mistakes:

• Confusing context filter with user interaction lock
• Assuming 'Only Relevant Values' disables all changes
• Ignoring filter control type settings

5. You want to create a dashboard where users can filter sales data by region and product category. You add both filters to the Filter Shelf and show their Filter Cards. However, you want the product category filter to only show categories relevant to the selected region. How should you configure the filters?

hard

A. Add the product category filter as a context filter before the region filter

B. Set the product category filter to 'Only Relevant Values' so it updates based on region selection

C. Use a calculated field to combine region and category and filter on that

D. Place both filters on the Filter Shelf without additional settings

Solution

1. Step 1: Understand filter dependency

   To make one filter update based on another, Tableau uses 'Only Relevant Values' setting on the dependent filter.

2. Step 2: Apply 'Only Relevant Values' to product category filter

   This setting ensures product categories shown depend on the selected region, improving user experience.

3. Final Answer:

   Set the product category filter to 'Only Relevant Values' so it updates based on region selection -> Option B

4. Quick Check:

   Only Relevant Values = dynamic filter update [OK]

Hint: Use 'Only Relevant Values' for dependent filter updates [OK]

Common Mistakes:

• Using context filter incorrectly for dependency
• Not enabling 'Only Relevant Values' on dependent filter
• Trying to combine filters with calculated fields unnecessarily